Electroplating tank



NOV. 5, 1929. i Q JONES 1,734,909

ELEGTROPLATING TANK Filed Oct 15, 1925 I In 5 Inventor:

Charles E.Jones,

b5 HIS Attorney.

Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. JONES, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTROPLATING TANK Application filed October 15, 1925. SeriaI No. 62,619.

My present invention relates to electroplating tanks, and more particularly to electroplating tanks in which the anode comprises irregular shaped pieces of metal which may, if desired, be scrap material.

It is an object of my invention to provide an electroplating tank having an anode which is inexpensive, and ossessed of a large anode surface. It is a urther object of my invention to provide a permanent electrical connection between the electroplating tank and the anode whereby the use of anode hooks and rods and the consequent loss of anode contact may be avoided.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, will best be understood from reference to the folg0 lowing specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the tank shown in Fig. 1 with the cover portion removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective partly broken away of a modified form of my inven tion; while Fig. 4 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, of the tank and plating barrel shown in connection with Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have indicated at 1 a metal tank adapted to contain an electrolyte. Tank 1 may be made of any suitable metal, de ending on the nature of the electrolyte use for instance, with an alkaline solution, which might for example be employed for the deposition of tin, cadmium, copper, zinc and other metals, the tank may be made of steel or nichrome, while for an acid electrolyte, which might be employed for the deposition of chromium, nickel, copper or zinc, a lead tank preferably will be employed. Adjacent the bottom of the plating tank, I provide a plurality of angle iron supporting members 2 which extend completely around the tank and may be permanently connected thereto as by welding or riveting. Attached to the edge or upper surface of the angle irons 2 is an expanded metal or other perforated metal sheet 3 which will generally be constructed of the same material as the tank. The sheet 3 extends upwardly in parallel relation with the walls of the tank and forms therewith a pocket adapted to contain irregular shaped metal pieces 4, which may be scrap metal or other suitable material which it is intended to deposit on a cathode memher. The upper edge of the wire mesh 3 and tank 1 are each provided'with reenforc ing steel bands 5 and 6 respectively, with which a cover member 7 is adapted to cooperate and to assist in retaining the wire mesh walls in position. If desired, additional reenforcing means may be provided between tank 1 and the wire mesh walls. Such reenforcing means might consist of several small sections of angle or channel irons which would be connected both to the tank and to the Wire mesh walls in any suitable manner. Current is supplied to the anode including the particles or pieces 4 by means of a conductor 8 which may be connected to tank 1 in any suitable manner. The type of electroplating tank disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted for the plating of relatively large structures which would be suspended from a conducting cathode rod extending, lengthwise of the tank and insulated therefrom. This latter feature, however, has been omitted from the drawing in the interest of clearness.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification of my invention, which is adapted for employment in barrel plating processes. The metal tank 9 employed in this process is provided with a wiremesh pocket 10 adapted to contain irregular pieces of metal. The pocket 10 may be constructed of expanded metal or other suitable material and is adapted to be supported from opposite side walls of the tank 9. For the latter purpose, the pocket member 10 is provided with portions 11 which extend over the upper end of the tank and are permanently secured thereto in any manner desired. A plating barrel 12 which may be formed of perforated hard rubber or similar insulation sections 13 secured to insulating ribs 20, is rotatably supported within tank 9 b means of plates 14 and 15 and rods'16 an 17. Plates 14 and 15 are supported on insulating members, not shown, which are adapted to be mounted on opposite ends of the tank 9. Current is supplied to the plating barrel by the connections 18 and 19.

With the arrangementshown in both forms of my invention an extremely large and inexpensive anode surface is obtained. Furthermore, by the use of the particular type of anode used I avoid the use of anode hooks and rods and the necessity for cleaning such parts. A perfect contact of the anode with the metal tank is also constantly maintained.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a metal tank adapted to contain an electrolyte, an anode structure adapted to cooperate with said electrolyte, said anode structure including a plurality of metallic particles and a wire mesh retaining means, said wire mesh being connected to opposite sides of said tank and in electrical contact therewith, and means whereby current may be supplied to-the walls of said tank.

2. In combination, a metal container, and

a perforated member cooperating with the walls of said container to provide a pocket adapted to hold pieces of metal, said pocket being provided with a rigid base portion, mounted above the base of said container, and

means whereby a source of current may be connected to the walls of said container.

3. In combination, a metallic container, a rigid metallic supporting member mounted on the inside of the container and adjacent the bottom thereof, a perforated metal sheet cooperating with the supporting member and with said metallic container to provide a pocket adapted to hold metal particles, and means whereby a source of current may be connected to the walls of said container.

4. In combination, a metal tank, a rigid metallic member extending around the inside of the tank and adjacent the bottom thereof, a wire mesh attached to said member and extending upwardly to the top of the tank to provide a pocket, a reeinforcing" metal strip attached to the upper end of the wire mesh, and means cooperating with the container wall and wire mesh to maintain the latter in 50 position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of October, 1925.

CHARLES E. J ()NES. 

